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Chrome owner Coburn: Preakness hospitality tops Derby

BALTIMORE – Co-owner Steve Coburn is having the time of his life following California Chrome in his run for the Triple Crown. He let folksy remarks and point-blank opinions fly and gushed about Maryland

BALTIMORE — Co-owner Steve Coburn is having the time of his life following California Chrome in his run for the Triple Crown. He let folksy remarks and point-blank opinions fly and gushed about Maryland hospitality after Saturday's Preakness win. But where was his partner, Perry Martin?

Coburn said Martin, whom he described as a "very private person," wasn't happy with the hospitality he received two weeks earlier at the Kentucky Derby and that he opted to watch from an undisclosed location.

"The hospitality we received at Churchill Downs wasn't very good, and Perry ... decided that he and his family were going to watch the race some place within the world — I can't tell you where it's at because I don't even know where the hell it's at — and then go have a supper."

Coburn said Martin had his 84-year-old mother with him in Kentucky and apparently had difficulty getting her into the winner's circle.

"There were people doing what they could to help us," said Coburn. "But apparently they didn't do quite enough. ... Even though we won, it was a bad day for my partner and his family."

John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs, expressed regret that the Martin family experience in Kentucky didn't measure up to "the stellar performance of their horse" in the race.

"Our team worked to satisfy the California Chrome team's needs when they were communicated to us and regret that their experience at Churchill Downs appears to have fallen short of expectations," Asher said in a statement. "We would certainly look forward to discussing with them any issues stemming from their Derby experience, and wish California Chrome and his team the best in their pursuit of the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes."

Coburn lives in the Reno, Nev., area and works for a firm that makes magnetic strips for credit cards and hotel keys. Martin and his wife, Denise, own and operate a materials testing company in Sacramento.

Now co-owner of a race horse worth millions, Coburn says he has no plans to quit his regular job. "Well, I'm only 61, so I've got at least four more years to work," said Coburn. "And I will show up every day because I cannot do this (quit) to my family, which is the people I work with. I could not walk away from them simply because I don't want to put them in a bind. ... That's not the type of person I am. ... I get up. I go to work every day."

He and Martin bought a mare for $8,000 and paid a $2,000 stud fee and the result of that mating was California Chrome.

He also said, "Churchill Downs (in Kentucky) needs to call Maryland to get a lesson in hospitality because these people right here, they've treated us like royalty."

Coburn said he hadn't yet spoken to Martin after the race, but he hopes to convince him to attend the Belmont Stakes in New York, where California Chrome will try for the first Triple Crown in 36 years.

"We'll drag his butt to Belmont if he doesn't want to show up," said Coburn. "... All I can say is, Perry, you're missing a hell of a party, buddy. You really are."

Coburn was asked how much racing needs a Triple Crown winner. He responded by taking a jab at trainers.

Nineteen horses ran in the Derby. But only three including California Chrome and Preakness runner-up Ride On Curlin, ran here. Several of those other Derby horses are expected to take a run at California Chrome in the Belmont.

"There are trainers out there that train horses just to upset the applecart," said Coburn.

"I honestly believe that there are a lot of good horses running out there, and 19 of them started in the Kentucky Derby. ... They need to change this sport to where those ... horses that started in the Kentucky Derby are the only (ones) eligible to run in all three races. If you bow out of the Preakness, you don't come back for the Belmont."

Coburn, 61, also said, "I honestly believe that if the Triple Crown is not won this year by California Chrome, I will never see it in my lifetime because there are people out there trying to upset the applecart."